WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Saturday's win over the Sydney Swans is the club's best performance so far this season.

In wet conditions at the SCG - a ground where the club had been winless for seven years entering the contest - the Bulldogs came from behind late in the last quarter to emerge with a famous four-point win.

The visitors led by 21 points midway through the second term, but found themselves behind midway through the final term thanks to a snap from the Swans' Harry Cunningham. However, Easton Wood's flying kick in the goal-square at the 25-minute mark put the Bulldogs back in front and they hung on for what the coach described as a "heart-stopping" win.

Beveridge said the players held their nerve under some real pressure from the 2014 grand finalists.

"The game was in the balance all day. You couldn't really take a breath tactically and the players' efforts were just enormous," Beveridge said.

"We've had some good wins this year but that one obviously just trumps the others."

Beveridge hailed some "big plays" from his defenders during those frantic final minutes, when exhausted players from both sides pushed each other to the limit for the four premiership points on offer.

The result lifts the Western Bulldogs, who lost their 2014 captain Ryan Griffen and senior coach Brendon McCartney during an eventful off-season before Beveridge was appointed, to a 4-1 win-loss record and a spot in the top four.

It has been the club's best start to a home-and-away campaign since 2008, when it had seven wins and a draw through the opening eight rounds. The first-year senior coach said the players would come away from the SCG with a "hell of a lot of belief going into the future".

"We just want to go as far as we can this year and today definitely helps that," Beveridge said. "It just helps give us a little sniff that we can take it a bit further.

"There is no doubt the players' expectations will rise because that's an enormous win for us."

Beveridge said skipper Robert Murphy, who finished the match with 24 touches and four marks coming out of defence, showed great leadership.

"He got tagged today. Craig Bird played on him all day," Beveridge said. "He had to deal with that and still do what he can offensively and defensively. He is an outstanding player.

"His teammates are feeding off his passion for them and our footy club."

And Beveridge played down the disparity in the hit-outs, which the home side won 75-36. Swans ruckman Mike Pyke alone got first hands to the footy at the stoppage 59 times.

"There is no doubt your ruckman can give you first use at times, but as long as you cater for it around the footy you can come out OK and our mids did that today," Beveridge said.

The Bulldogs host St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Saturday.